Patient Information
Admission To Hospital
Thank you for choosing to stay at Bidwill Trust Hospital. The management and staff look forward to welcoming you and hope your stay is pleasant and comfortable. On arrival at Reception you will be accompanied to your room and admission procedures carried out by the Nurse on duty. Depending on the time of your scheduled operation, there will be a waiting period.
Fasting Before Surgery
If your operation is in the morning, do not eat anything after midnight but you may have water to drink until 6:00am. For afternoon operations, have a light breakfast of toast or cereal (not a cooked breakfast) before 7.30am. You may drink water up until 11:00am.
Babies can be breast fed up to three hours before surgery and bottle fed babies up to four hours before surgery. They may continue to have water up until two hours before surgery.
Completing Your Admission Questionnaire
Please complete all portions of the yellow questionnaire numbered 1-9 and return it at least one week prior to your admission date. Please use black pen to complete the form. Contact the hospital if you have any problems completing the form.
You may be contacted by a Registered Nurse prior to your admission requesting further information/clarification of your health history.
We recommend that you read your information booklet to assist you in completing your questionnaire.
Medications
PLEASE BRING ALL YOUR CURRENT DRUGS AND MEDICINES WITH YOU in their original containers. Take your usual medication on the morning of surgery with a sip of water, unless you have been instructed otherwise.
Diabetic patients on insulin and/or oral diabetes medication (hypoglycaemics) should discuss their pre-operative regime with their surgeon/GP prior to admission.
What To Bring
Overnight patients should bring a dressing gown, night wear, and toiletries. Day patients should come to hospital in comfortable clothing.
Smoking
Smokers develop more complications than non-smokers. It is in your interest to stop smoking six weeks before your operation, but if your surgery is arranged at short notice, you should not smoke for at least 48 hours before your operation. Smoking is not permitted within the hospital, or its grounds. Ministry of Health Quit cards are available at your GP/Surgeon’s rooms or Bidwill Hospital if you need assistance with smoking cessation.
Accommodation
Overnight patients have a single room with en-suite facilities and sky TV. Patients having minor surgery will be accommodated in the day surgery unit.
Valuables And Money
We strongly recommend that valuables and money are left at home. No responsibility can be accepted by the hospital for items that are lost or damaged during your stay, even those in safe keeping.
Children
At the hospital the hospital there is a double room assigned for the hospitalisation and the care of children. Visiting is unrestricted for immediate family. Facilities are available at a charge for a parent to stay overnight with their child.
We recommend that a parent accompany their child to theatre and stay until they are asleep. Meals can be arranged for a parent sitting with their child on the day of surgery.
On Discharge
We strongly recommend that you arrange for a responsible adult family member or friend to accompany you home after discharge.
IF, AFTER YOUR DISCHARGE FROM BIDWILL TRUST HOSPITAL YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS RING THE HOSPITAL AND ASK TO SPEAK TO A REGISTERED NURSE. IF THE NURSE IS UNABLE TO ANSWER YOUR QUERIES, HE/SHE WILL CONTACT THE SURGEON RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR CARE.
Parking
Unrestricted parking is available within the front car park or at the rear of the hospital in Bidwill Street.
Paying Accounts
You will receive three accounts covering your surgery. Your accounts will come from the hospital, your surgeon and your anaesthetist (if you had one in attendance). If you are covered by health insurance you will need to collate all invoices relating to your surgery and forward these to your company for payment, along with any prior approval information provided. Office hours for payment of accounts: 8.00am-4.30pm, Monday to Friday. Payments can be made by Internet banking, Eftpos, Cash, Cheque or Credit Card.
Compliments / Complaints
The hospital staff trust you have been comfortable during your stay, that your treatment and care has been to your satisfaction, and that you have a speedy recovery. If you have any concerns or suggestions please write to:
The Manager, Val Flynn or
Chairman, Mr Mark Hervey
C/- Bidwill Trust Hospital
53 Elizabeth Street
Timaru
New Zealand
Alternatively you can contact the patient advocacy service. This is a nationwide free and independent service. Telephone 03 684 1594 or 0800 377 766.
